BNP chief Khaleda’s lawyers expect docs for appeal by Wednesday

Counsels for BNP chief Khaleda Zia say they are expecting to get a copy of the court’s verdict by Wednesday with their client behind bars for almost a week now.

The 72-year-old former prime minister was convicted of corruption and sentenced to five years in prison by a Dhaka court on Feb 8.

The judge had read out a summary of his 632-page verdict before the sentencing, after which Khaleda was led away to an old jailhouse on Dhaka’s Nazimuddin Road.

Soon after the verdict was delivered, the defence sought a certified copy of it to take the legal battle to the High Court, but it is yet to be available.

The BNP claims that the delay was an intentional effort by the government to keep Khaleda in prison as long as it can.

On Monday, Zainul Abedin, one of the attorneys of Khaleda’s legal team, told bdnews24.com that they have given the court 3,000 pages of stamped papers, on which the verdict will be copied before the judge certifies it.

On Wednesday, another defence lawyer said they were expecting to receive it later in the day.

“We will get the certified copy by 4pm and will file an appeal with the High Court,” he told bdnews24.com during pro-BNP lawyers’ protests on the premises of the Dhaka district and sessions judge’s court.